United States v. Kerby St. John

Kerby St. John was charged with domestic assault by a habitual offender in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 117. At trial St. John moved for a judgment of acquittal based on insufficient evidence, which the district court 1 denied. The jury convicted St. John of the charge, and he appeals. We affirm.

St. John is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and lives on the reservation in Kenel, South Dakota. Some eleven years ago he began dating Bonnie White Bull, a member of the same tribe. Their relationship started well, and White Bull soon moved into St. John’s house. There was evidence at trial that…